Bora-Hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan has won Stage 5 of the Tour de France in Colmar to consolidate his lead in the points competition, with Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert just claiming second place ahead of Matteo Trentin of Mitchelton- Scott. Deceunink-Quick Step’s Julian Alaphilippe retins the overall lead.
Rui Costa of UAE Team Emirates attacked inside the final 10 kilometres of the 175.5-kilometre stage from St-Dié-des-Vosges, but was caught with 2 kilometres remaining as the stage – despite two categorised climbs late on – came down to a bunch finish among the more punchy sprinters.
Daryl Impey of Mitchelton-Scott – a former wearer of the yellow jersey – went early with around 400 metres to go, looking to set up Trentin, but it was the green jersey of Sagan, looking to win the points competition for a record seventh time, who came through for his 11th Tour de France stage win of his career.
In the day’s break was the Lotto-Soudal rider Tim Wellens, who was also one of yesterday’s escapees as he took the lead in the mountains classification, and added to his lead in the polka-dot jersey competition today.
Today was the first of two days in the Vosges mountain range, although tomorrow will be much more testing – and potentially significant for the General Classification – with a summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles.
First included in the race in 2012, when Chris Froome won and Team Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins got into the yellow jersey he would keep all the way to Paris – Vincenzo Nibali also triumphed there on his way to winning the overall title in 2014.
This year, however, there is an added twist – the finish line is a further kilometre up the road, and what is more, on a gravel surface and with a maximum gradient in the final part of that climb of 25 per cent.
It promises to be a cracking day – and if not a stage on which the Tour de France can be won, one on which the race can certainly be lost.
Stage winner Peter Sagan
As I said in the first four stages, you have to be patient and victory will come. A stage win in the Tour de France requires strong form, good tactics but also other things that have to come together. It isn't that simple.
I'd like to really thank my teammates today for their fantastic job. They were brilliant and controlled the race throughout the day. We controlled the flat parts, the climbs, all the way to finish. This victory is the result of great teamwork!
The Sentencing Council has decided that the harm of causing death with a deadly vehicle is trivial so custodial sentences to be exceptional, not an...
I don't think standard flash patterns are ineffective, no. But I'm sure that human perception of a change in flash intensity and frequency is...
£4.
No, that's very doubtful while proper testing would be fully destructive.
In that £1000 exactly scenario, beginners should probably be made aware that pedals will be extra.
What's wrong with dropping down on to the Millenium Bridge, or the swing bridge, then the brief, but satisfying climb back up the hill? #training....
The relatives might of course disagree, but in general I'd countenance a relatively light sentence* if only we could fix it so that those who...
Id forgotten that I got a second hand set of project two's for my getting to work bike over twenty years back.
My bet is that all these tires popping off are from people with bad pressure gauges or they're simply just putting too much air in on purpose. ...
David9694 - you were right! These new autonomous vehicles really are conspiring to run out of control!...